There’s a lot you can do in 54 hours. You could drive round-trip between Lincoln, Nebraska and Key West, Florida. You could watch 25 full-length movies or maybe finish the entire Harry Potter series. By participating in Lincoln’s Techstars Startup Weekend on January 25-27, you can also start a business and get it running within 54 hours.
“Startup weekend gives people an opportunity to really see how you start a company,” said Christina Oldfather, Director of Innovation and Entrepreneurship for the Lincoln Partnership for Economic Development (LPED) and Interim Co-Director of NMotion. “Even if you don’t have an idea or a company right now, you can get a taste of the startup experience.”
The program is put on in partnership with LPED, the University of Nebraska-Lincoln Center for Entrepreneurship and the Engler Entrepreneurship Program.
“The partnership means the barrier to entry is really low,” Oldfather said. “Tickets are only $20 so it’s really accessible. All the food for the weekend is included, and you can hang out with like-minded people at FUSE Coworking.”
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The last Lincoln Techstars Startup Weekend happened in 2012, and several businesses and founders were spun out of it as a result.
“This is the first community-wide startup weekend in quite some time,” Oldfather said. “We have 60 people registered so far, a mix of students and people we’ve pushed it out to in the community.”
The weekend begins on Friday, January 25 as those attending meet up, pitch their ideas and form their teams. Those involved in the weekend build a company from the ground up, create a product, make their pitch and finalize their business plans. The program culminates on Sunday after roughly 54 hours, when teams are judged on their final product and the exchange of ideas is complete.
“Startup weekend helps to activate people beyond just providing opportunities to connect,” Oldfather said. “This is really tactical. People can take what they learn and continue to move forward with starting a business or joining a startup.”
If a business idea takes shape during startup weekend, there are ample resources to help take it to the next level.
“It’s good timing if someone comes out with a really good idea,” Oldfather said. “The next cohort of the NMotion Accelerator starts in April and applications are now open.”
Since its first event in 2007, Techstars has organized nearly 3,000 Startup Weekends in 150 countries, with over 23,000 teams formed to pitch their ideas. Oldfather was asked how the involvement of Techstars benefits startup weekend.
“Techstars has a good format for this,” she said. “They also provide us with a facilitator, someone that has a lot of experience running these weekends and can help with the flow and make sure everything goes well.”
There is also a reciprocal benefit from Techstars’ involvement.
“It’s nice to get someone from outside the community to give us another perspective, and also let them see what’s happening in Lincoln,” Oldfather said. “It’s a bonus to have someone that can serve as an advocate.”
Are there eligibility requirements to participate?
“It’s open to everyone,” Oldfather said. “You don’t have to have an idea or already started something. Our preference is that you come to work on an idea you haven’t been working on, something new so everyone is at the same stage.”
For more information or to purchase tickets, visit http://communities.techstars.com/usa/lincoln/startup-weekend/13579.
